Te Pouakai Ūpoko Taki Rua

Te Pouakai Ūpoko Taki Rua The Two-headed Haast’s Eagle (Harpagornis Moorei) 2011 Two-headed depictions of birds such as the Eagle and Phoenix have appeared on coats-of-arms for centuries. They are a symbol of Duality - with two heads sharing one body. The South Island of New Zealand was the home of the largest eagle the world has known - the magnificent Pouakai or Haast’s Eagle. Unfortunately the Pouakai became extinct around the 1400s, perhaps due to the Maori’s killing the Moa to extinction - the huge, lightless bird which was thought to be the Pouakai’s major food source, The Pouakai had a shorter wingspan than other eagles, enabling it to weave through forests rather than soar like other eagles. In this painting, to me, the two heads of the eagle represent the duality of our-selves: our masculine and feminine sides, physical and spiritual aspects, giving and receiving, gentleness and strength, and so forth: the balance of which we require to be whole people - to live fully and balanced lives and find our special place in the world. With the modern emphasis on technology, reason and separating things into neat boxes, I would hate to see our trustworthy intuition, awesome individual uniqueness, and understanding of our Unity with All, become submerged or overwhelmed. I hope this book shows both my feminine intuitive, creative, feeling side, and my masculine logical and practical side. Without either I could not have my visionary art. Perhaps this painting is encouraging us to embrace and nurture both sides of ourselves, whether we are male or female, so that we, as a race and indeed - planet, don’t become extinct like the mighty Pouakai…. or Moa.